Authored by Breach Communications and Labor Strategist Meg Ward.

In early 2020, when Breach’s co-founders were in the early stages of dreaming up our organization, we had a vision of one day being able to build power within the labor movement. We believe that building worker power is essential to driving equitable solutions to the climate crisis. We hoped to use our skills as climate organizers, legal advocates, and storytellers to also promote worker justice. In 2024, that vision became a reality. 

As a unionized, worker-led organization Breach is known to push the envelope. Just as we’re not afraid to expose backroom deals between the City of Portland and dirty fossil fuel company Zenith Energy, we’re not afraid to fiercely stand up for workers everywhere – even at nonprofits. We think our jobs rule and we are endlessly grateful to be able to carry out this work.

Consistent with our early vision of being able to build power within the labor movement, this year our team: 

Launched Organize Your Organization! 

In March, we launched Organize Your Organization! to share our knowledge and experience with nonprofit union campaigns in order to build worker power in the nonprofit sector. We have received overwhelmingly positive feedback about the utility of our free OYO handbook, a step-by-step guide to unionizing nonprofit workplaces. This fall, after realizing we had even more to say about nonprofit unionization, we launched our OYO Substack. We are excited to continue to bring in-depth discussions that we cover briefly in the OYO handbook, first-hand accounts from workers who’ve unionized their workplaces, and more resources to help support workers in building democracy within their organizations.

Supported workers across Oregon 

In 2024, our team increased our capacity to support grassroots unionization campaigns in Oregon. Last year, in partnership with CWA Local 7901 (CWA 7901), we supported workers at Fair Housing Council of Oregon unionize their workplace and win voluntary recognition. This year, we supported them through contract negotiations to secure a progressive first collective bargaining agreement that includes an increase in wages, benefits, just cause security, and transparency around decision making. Earlier this month, our comrades at Portland’s beloved newspaper, Street Roots, launched their own unionization campaign with the support of Breach staff and CWA 7901. An NLRB election is scheduled for January 7, 2025 and we have no doubt they’ll secure certification. In 2025, we look forward to boldly fighting for increased protections for workers across Oregon.  

Elected as officers of our union, CWA 7901

In October, Nick Caleb, Breach’s climate and energy attorney and I were elected into officer positions at CWA 7901. As Area Vice President and President, respectively, Nick and I are joined by six talented and devoted rank and file members who also stepped into leadership roles. Together, we’ve gained new membership, increased camaraderie across current members, and have brought new progressive-minded nonprofit organizations to our Local. We have big plans for 2025 and look forward to hitting the ground running come January. 

As a scrappy, six-person team, we are proud of the work we’ve done this year to make our dream of working to build labor power a reality. With your support, we can continue to fearlessly carry out this work long into the future.